By Mary Jo Lyons, CFP®
What does steward mean?
stew·ard \ˈstü-ərd, st(y)u̇rd\
noun
1. a person who manages another’s property or financial affairs; one who administers anything as the agent of another or others.
2. a person who has charge of the household of another, buying or obtaining food, directing the servants, etc.
verb
3. to act as steward of; manage.
What does the term stewardship mean?
stew·ard·ship \ˈstü-ərd-ˌship-\
noun
1. the position and duties of a steward, a person who acts as the surrogate of another or others, especially by managing property, financial affairs, an estate, etc.
2. the responsible overseeing and protection of something considered worth caring for and preserving
In life, we hear the term management more than stewardship. It’s hard to think about stewardship if we don’t know what it is. A business manager oversees the use of a company’s resources including money, machinery and personnel to profitably provide a product or service in harmony with the company’s purpose and values. Isn’t that the same as stewardship? Stewardship is not new, it’s not a fad or a trend. Christians understand that stewardship is scripture based. The concept of stewardship comes from the Gospels, the Old Testament and the letters of the New Testament.
Genesis 1:1
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
The Bible tells us that everything we have is a gift from God that he has placed in our hands and we are tasked with managing it.
Psalm 24:1
The earth is the LORD’S, and everything in it, the world and all who live in it. The world and all its people belong to him.
Genesis 1:28
Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”
As financial advisors, you may have heard us talk about charitable giving. Now that to me is what stewardship is all about, maximizing what you have to give; your resources, your assets, your investments, your treasures.
We do this to give to our families, to those less fortunate, and to those in need, all to further the kingdom of God. There is no better joy than the joy that comes when you give from your heart. You can give your money, your worldly goods, your time and/or your talent.
Stewardship calls us to realize that we are called to give in proportion to what God has given to us. We can’t base our giving on what others are or are not giving.
Proverbs 11:25
A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
The Bible has passages on giving, on investing, and on seeking wise counsel. You can find more of these on our website at www.ciswealth.com
Part of being a good family steward is investing according to your family’s values. It is important to know the status, views, and beliefs of various public companies. In essence, when you invest in a company, you are also supporting what that company invests in.
This is where Christian financial advisors like Christian Financial Advisors® come into play. We meet with every client to educate them on Biblically Responsible Investing and determine where their convictions lie. If you are new to investing, we can help you set up a complete investment profile that lines up with your values.
Stewardship is trusting God. None of us will ever have all that we want, but we will always have all that we need. Are you confident about being the best steward you can be for your family? Can you do more with what you have? Maybe it’s time to consider a financial plan to ensure you are on track to meet your goals.
